Page 146 of Wherever You Are

Now that we’re related, I can barely step a pinky toe in his direction without cowering. It’s ten times worse.

I never saw him filling this brotherly role in my life, and since I’m dating Garrison—that’stwobrothers I have with opinions on my very first relationship.

It’s a lot.

Ryke looks to Lily and says, “It’s just a fucking cake.”

I push my glasses up the bridge of my nose. Garrison’s shoulder presses right next to mine. It’s nice that anytime I’m invited to something, he’s automatically invited too. We’re a pair now. And even though I never felt like a seventh wheel with the core six, him being with me brings this sense of completion. Like it was always meant to beeight.

Garrison leans casually against the refrigerator, an unlit cigarette peeking from the pocket of his leather jacket. His eyes are on me. Mine on him. It’s hard to set them anywhere else when I feel the most comfort swallowed up in his orbit.

“Why’d you take so long?” Lo asks accusingly.

Garrison swings his head to my brother. “We pulled over to fuck,” he says dryly.

Oh…God.

I am used to his sarcasm, but not in front of my brothers. Not likethis.

Ryke’s jaw hardens. Lo’s sharpens.

I choke on a breath. “We…didn’t.”

“They know that,” Garrison tells me.

Connor makes a pot of coffee. “It’s as though you want them to hate you.”That actually might be true.I think he feels undeserving of their kindness, so he pushes them away.

Garrison pauses before saying, “That’s stupid.”

“You said it, not me,” Connor states.

“Who wants the head?” Daisy asks, raising a plate with a slice of cake. I give her an appreciative look for the interjection and then spin towards the freezer, grabbing a tub of vanilla ice cream.

“I’m trying to remember why I like you,” Lo tells Garrison, ignoring Daisy, “but it’s all clouded by an image of me stabbing you, so be lucky I’m not holding a goddamn knife right now.”

Garrison almost smiles. “You still like me?”

I caught that too. My spirits lift.

Lo enunciates, “Mestabbing you to death. Value your own life for me, so you can at least be kind of frightened.”

I focus on opening the tub of ice cream—helping out and distracting myself—and then I lean into Daisy’s ear to whisper, “I’m so embarrassed.”

Daisy hugs my side and says even softer, “They love you, you know?”

I glance to Ryke, but the second he turns towards me, I abruptly rotate back to Daisy. My brain is singing a song on a loop. It goes something like:Ryke Meadows is your big brother. He’s your brother. Older brother! He’s Ryke Meadows and you’ve got him as a brother! HE’S YOUR BROTHERRRRR!

My face flames and stomach churns.

I so clearly avoided his gaze, didn’t I? There was nothing smooth about it. I refocus on the ice cream. Tasks are good. Tasks keep me away from thinking about how awkward I am.

After I stick a spoon into the ice cream, I notice Rose handing Lily a middle portion of the cake. Lily shakes her head. “I can’t eat the shaft.”

“Lil.” Lo melds his body behind hers. “It’scake.”

“It’s a penis.”

“No, love,thisis a penis.” He takes her hand and places it on his crotch.